Ford B-MAX Concept Headed for Geneva

Ford of Europe will present a small minivan concept that will replace the Fusion at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show in March 2011, according to a Ford source cited by Automotive News Europe. The vehicle will start production at the end of next year, with sales expected to begin in early 2012. The model will be produced exclusively for the European market.

“It is a B-segment vehicle and will go into full production early in 2012,” confirmed a Ford of Europe spokesperson.

The vehicle will most likely be produced at Ford's factory in Craiova, Romania, which currently assembles the Transit Connect (both passenger carrier and van versions). The new model will use Ford's global B architecture, which debuted in 2008 with the Fiesta subcompact, and will be a five-seat mini MPV with rear sliding doors. The car will compete with the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva which has been the best selling minivan in Europe.

The Fusion was launched in 2002 and is beginning to show signs of aging, sliding to fifth place in the segment last year, from second in 2007. Sales of the Fusion have dropped 36 percent in the last ten months to just 30,577. Its sales peaked at 82,696 units in 2007, according to market researcher JATO Dynamics cited by Autonews.

Ford said 150,000 units of the B-segment vehicle will be produced annually at the Craiova plant, 80 percent of which will be exported. Ford hopes this will boost output of the Craiova plant which is currently running below its capacity. Ford acquired the plant from the Romanian government and planned to invest EUR 675 million by 2012 and begin production of the B-MAX by early 2010. The investment was postponed because of the global financial crisis and production start was re-scheduled to the end of 2011.